Derby County 3-2 Huddersfield Town

Jordan Ibe gave Derby the lead after only seven minutes

Derby returned to winning ways after two league defeats as they survived a spirited Huddersfield fightback.

Jordan Ibe side-footed Derby ahead and Harry Bunn levelled with a low shot but Johnny Russell restored the Rams' lead, tapping in a rebound after Alex Smithies parried Chris Martin's shot.

Grant Holt headed wide for the Terriers before substitute Simon Dawkins made it 3-1 with a low right-foot finish.

Mark Hudson headed Huddersfield's second from a corner in stoppage time.

The win lifted Derby to fourth in the Championship, one point behind new leaders Bournemouth.

Steve McClaren's side started brightly as Ibe's curling effort beat keeper Smithies but defender Joel Lynch managed to get his head on the ball and flick it over the crossbar.

Ibe capitalised a minute later when Jeff Hendrick slipped by his man inside the box to get to the byline and Ibe met his near-post cut-back to shoot into the far corner.

Nahki Wells had Huddersfield's first real chance, forcing Jack Butland to tip away his shot across the face of goal.

The Terriers were level shortly after when Holt and Wells set up Bunn who fired home to Butland's right from 12 yards.

Johnny Russell restored Derby's lead with a goal on the stroke of half time

But Derby levelled when Russell advanced into the box from the left and shaped to shoot but disguised a pass to Martin, whose shot was blocked by Smithies but Russell made no mistake with the follow-up as Huddersfield appealed in vain for offside.

In the second half, Lynch skimmed the crossbar with a header before Butland had to beat away a fierce Jacob Butterfield shot.

But Smithies could do as Dawkins came off the bench and fired in Derby's third off a post from the edge of the area.

Straight away, Butland denied Danny Ward and Cyrus Christie did brilliantly to block Wells's follow-up.

Huddersfield's late pressure was rewarded when, Butland saved from Martin Paterson and Hudson headed in from the resulting corner.

Derby boss Steve McClaren:

"It was a good reaction after Saturday at Brentford. It was a difficult game for us, a dangerous game for us given the way they play.

"We expected an open game and that's what we got. There were chances at both ends and it never felt like the game was won.

"Jack Butland made some good saves and Cyrus Christie made a superb block and then they scored right at the end, so it was fortunate for us that we had that two-goal cushion."

Huddersfield manager Chris Powell:

"Although losing is not a good feeling, I have to look back on the unbeaten run with a lot of pride.

"We didn't make the greatest of starts, but we got back into the game and Harry Bunn scored a really good goal.

"We conceded again just before half-time with what looked like a controversial goal at the time but I have seen it since and Martin was not offside, the officials got it spot on."